Central

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Athenaeum art display

The art project currently on display at the Athenaeum building in Central is a project called Conversations with Victoria.  Once the project has been implemented it will consist of a number of life-size figures of both political figures as well as ordinary people placed around the statue of Queen Victoria in front of the Public Library in the city centre.  It will seem as if they are in discussion with the Queen regarding the past, present and future.  Perhaps a little…

3 Comments
11/03/2012
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Athenaeum

The Athenaeum in Port Elizabeth was founded in the 1850′s to promote cultural activities but sadly died out in the 1880′s.  In 1893 the Young Men’s Institute, the School of Art, the Naturalists’ Society and the Camera Club came together and re-assert the right of the Athenaeum to occupy a part of the City Hall.  The then Town Council offered to bear most of the cost to erect the present building which was opened in 1896.  In the early years of the 1900′s it…

2 Comments
10/03/2012
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Settler Houses

In parts of Central you can still find some of the first homes to be built in Port Elizabeth. These old Settler houses have become quite a popular investment lately and a lot of people are renovating them to their former glory. The area was starting to be one of the most run down parts of the city and it is good to see that some people are having pride in the city's and their heritage and doing something about…

4 Comments
14/09/2010
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King Edward Hotel

The King Edward Hotel in Central is one of Port Elizabeth's landmark hotels and was built in 1903. It was taken over by a Dubai group a couple of years ago and is busy going through an extensive renovation process. The Grand Hotel across Western Road has also started a renovation process while the Donkin Reserve in front of the hotel is in the mids of a major upgrade as well. All of this bodes well for Port Elizabeth, and…

6 Comments
14/07/2010
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Colourful historic houses

A couple of restored settler houses in Central. I love the bright colours that was used when they got painted. The church in the background is The Hill Presbyterian Church next to the Donkin Reserve.

2 Comments
26/12/2009
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Holy Trinity Church

The Trinity congregation was founded in 1854 when a group of parishioners broke away from St Mary's Church The original church was built at the bottom of Military Road but a growing need for a church by the people on the Hill saw the church moving to its present site next to Havelock Square. The new church was opened for worship on 1 April 1866. In 1897 a deranged woman set fire to the Church and all but the walls…

3 Comments
08/12/2009